5 - Oaks & Hickories

Carya cordiformis

bitternut hickory

(lit. “heart-shaped walnut” refers to subtle nut shape)

Carya was a greek princess turned into a walnut tree by Dionysus

Carya ovata

shagbark hickory

(lit. “egg-shaped walnut” refers to leaves/nut)

hickory from Algonquian pockerchicory

Carya illinoinensis

pecan

(lit. “Illinois walnut”)

pecan from Algonquian pakani

Quercus bicolor

swamp white oak °

(lit. “two-colored oak” refers to two-toned leaves)

young bark on branch ends flaky

Quercus ellipsoidalis

northern pin oak ^

(lit. “oval-shaped oak” refers to acorn/sinuses)

northern pin has very deep C shaped sinuses

Quercus imbricaria

shingle oak ^

(lit. “shingle-like oak” bc leaves in canopy overlap like roof tiles and wood was used to make shingles)

distinct unlobed leaf

Quercus macrocarpa

bur oak °

(lit. “large-fruited oak” bc acorn is largest of all oaks)

burr refers to the acorn’s bristly cap

leaf has distinct snatched waist

Quercus muehlenbergii

chinquapin oak °

(lit. “Muehlenberg’s oak” refers to Lutheran botanist)

chinquapin from Algonquian chechinquamin “chinquapin chestnut” bc of chestnut-like leaves

Quercus palustris

pin oak ^

(lit. “marsh oak”)

pin oak from pin-like lower twigs

pin has deep U-shaped sinuses

Quercus robur

English oak °

(lit. “strong oak” like robust)

ear-like basal lobes

Quercus rubra

red oak ^

(lit. “red oak”)

shallow sinuses